Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple / Vandamarum Poongulalal Temple/வண்டமரும் பூங்குழலால் டெம்பிள் / Keelaiyur / கீழையூர், Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.

The Heritage visit to this Sri Arnachaleswarar Temple at Keelaiyur was a part of the “Mada Temples Heritage Walk in Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai Districts”, organized by “Chozha Mandala Varalatru Thedal Kuzhu – GCHRG, on 05^th and 6^th March 2022. Thanks to V Ramachandran, Thasildar of Nagapattinam, who took us to all these Temples.

This is one of the Thevara Vaippu Sthalam and Sundarar has mentioned this place as Keezhaiyur, in his hymns *( 7-12-7 ) along with other places.

ஈழநாட்டுமா தோட்டம் தென்னாட் டிராமேச்சரம்

சோழ நாட்டுத் துருத்திநெய்த் தானந் திருமலை

ஆழி யூரன நாட்டுக்கெல் லாம் அணி யாகிய

கீழை யில்லர னார்க்கிடங் கிள்ளி குடியதே

…. சுந்தரர்

Moolavar  : Sri Arunachaleswarar

Consort    : Sri Vandamarum Poongulalal

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with an entrance mandapam. Stucco images of Vinayagar, Lord Shiva, and Parvati as Rishabaroodar and Murugan are on the top of the mandapam. Vinaitheertha Vinayagar is on the left side of the entrance mandapam. Balipeedam and Rishabam / Idabam with a mandapam are in front of entrance mandapam. Stucco dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar in the sanctum is a little Tall. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy and Durgai.

In praharam Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Ambal Sannidhi, Two Chandikeswarar and ( 5 idols are inside, seems to be memorial stones in Anjali hastam, Moovar, Pichadanar,.. ), Suriyan, Agastheeswarar, Somanathar, Bairavar, and Chandran. Ambal is in standing posture in a separate temple like sannidhi. The sannidhi is with Sanctum sanctorum and a mukha mandapam. Dwarapalakis are in front of sanctum sanctorum.

Right, 2 are memorial stones ...?

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and Maha mandapam. 5 steps are provided to climb up the maha mandapam. Ardha mandapam and maha mandapam are built during Thanjavur Nayaks / Maratha period. Both mandapas have two rows of pillars which divides the mandapas into three sections. These mandapas are called Vavval nethi / vandi koodu mandapas.

The sanctum sanctorum is on a raised upanam with kapotam. The adhistanam on a upanam is of prati bandha adhistanam with Jagathy, muppattai Kumudam, prathi vari. The Bhitti starts with vedika. Vishnu kantha pilasters with a square base and Naga bandham, malai thongal, kalasam, thadi, kudam, mandi (Lotus petals), palakai veera kandam and vettu poo mottu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with lotus petals, kapotam has the karukku in the nasis, Chandra mandalam, and Bhumi Desam. The Vimanam above the bhumi desam is of stucco without any images in the salai koshtam. The greeva koshtas have images of Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Lord Shiva with Parvati. The Sigaram is of vesara style with lotus petals, Kannadi sattam and stupi. Mahanisis are in the cardinal directions and alpha nasis are in between maha nasis.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple is believed to have been constructed by Ko Chengat Chozha and the same was reconstructed during the Chozha Period, and latter contributions are from Thanjavur Nayakas and Marathas.

The ardha mandapam pillars, and sanctum sanctorum walls have the inscriptions of Rajarajan- I, Rajendran – I, Kulasekara Pandyan, and Parakrama Pandya. As per the inscription, this place was called Arumozhitheva Valanattu Alanattu Keelaiyur. The inscriptions mainly record the Endowments established in the temple and land, money gifted to carry out the worship.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular Poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri days, Deepavali, Navaratri, Thirukarthigai, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH

This place Keelaiyur is on the Nagapattinam – Velankanni- Thiruthuraipoondi bus route.

This temple is about 22.7 KM from Nagapattinam Railway Station, 41 KM from Karaikal,  30 KM from Thiruvarur,  41 KM from Mannargudi, and 324 KM from Chennai.

The nearest railway station is Nagapattinam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---